Ezekiel's Prophesy

 It's bizarre that I'm preparing a Lenten Reflection Booklet for my Lay Dominican Region and looking at scripture prophesizing redemption, and in real-time I'm in Advent.  Read what Gus, one of my "cloistered brothers" wrote for Ezekiel 37: 21-28 and John 11: 45-56, and see if his words aren't also describing the birth of Jesus.

Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem, after bringing Lazarus back to life.  Jesus is fulfilling Ezekiel's prophesy.  

Thus speaks the Lord God: 'I will take the Israelites from among the nations to which they have come...to bring them back to their land... My dwelling shall be with them...my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever. 

Jesus begins in Bethlehem and ends in Jerusalem.  He will dwell among His people and bring the promised land to them.  His sanctuary to us Catholics is the tabernacle.  It is set up among His people, forever.

Jazzer Describes Mass

 Here's a letter from my "cloistered brother," Jazzer,

My dear friend,

I hope this will find you and all the family safe and healthy today.  I've been thinking of you in my prayers and this week I was able to pray for you all at Mass...it was a bitter-sweet experience as we gathered by block only, in the prison auditorium.  I was happy to see an altar and watch the flicker of the Pascal candle...we last had Mass in our chapel on March 11, last year.

It was sad to hear the priest mention our brothers who not long ago were sitting in the very seats I was sitting in, knowing I won't be seeing them again (in this life) but I was thankful to be at the Mass and celebrate the Holy Eucharist.  Sadly, we have little or no help with the person in charge of "programs" and once again there was no notice given about the 3 Masses at 1,2,& 3 pm on Thursday, so by the time the Mass was announced many men were at work, in the yard, or doing something else...we had six men from the block I live in and that's only because I was the night before by one of the cleaners.  How difficult can it be to let us know the night before with a simple posting on the blocks.  The same thing happened last month and out of 3 different blocks only 2 men came to the first Mass, 1 to the second and 0 to the third, nobody was told, nobody knew.  So many problems, so much disrespect in so many areas regarding peoples' faith.  The good news is, God is watching and holding us close to his heart, without faith there is darkness.

I continue to struggle with depression and anxiety and have to be on my guard then fold in these extremely unsettling times...let us all continue to ask for help and pray for each other...

God's peace and love,
Jazzer

alum/mit/edu. photo of auditorium

The Manner of the Resurrection

 Since my "cloistered brother", Milt died, his friends on the outside are holding a zoom memorial service for him.  I am assigned to read, 1 Corinthians 15: 35-57.

It is a mouthful.  The repetition may read nicely in your mind, but it is difficult to read aloud, at least in NAB.

This morning I was praying the Office for the Dead for Milt and came across the same reading.  It's different enough to be more readable. Compare:

53  For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and   this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about...

v.

This corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, this mortal body with immortality. When the corruptible frame takes on incorruptibility and the mortal immortality, then will the saying of Scripture be fulfilled..

Which do you prefer?

Advent/Christmas Reflection from Behind the Walls 2020

 Let's face it, these are tumultuous times for all of us.  Time in which I find myself often gazing from my cell window and wondering, what it might be that you yourself are seeing from your own window? For me, I see a co-mingling of sorrow and joy.  The leaves are changing and so are we.  Colder weather is moving in, and the ways in which we now interact with one another are dramatically altered.  So much suffering abounds, often it is difficult to know how best to help.  Many have become cynical, fearful, disillusioned, and stress and anxiety and frustration can get overwhelming.  I get it, I have my moments too.  However, the longer I gaze out my window, the more deeply I feel drawn to go deeper within myself.

From this vantage point, the window of my heart, my Advent journey is beginning.  I can see that many of us have grown older, more infirm, are struggling to make ends meet, and are wrestling with the innumerable uncertainties life now challenges us with. Many more of us are also grieving the losses of both loved ones and the way life used to be. In the windows of my own nostalgic moments, I fondly recall your face and the many memories we share from our vibrant Bethanian communal days.  It is the memory of your face, like a shining star to me, that brings me both solace and hope.  Comfort knowing that we may be separated, but we are far from being apart.

For a few moments, I had wished to turn back the hands of time.  Then a realization struck me, Advent calls us forward, not backward. We have grown since last we met, and each of us is on a journey now to transcend who we are at this moment.  Like the Wise folk of old, who took a risk, took off their masks, and dared to follow that bright shining star into an uncertain future, so too are we called to do the same, to step out in faith.  Advent journeys are about learning to trust, and about learning to see through the darkness and into the Light.  Often it is one baby step at a time.  Advent feeds us the nutrients we most need to bring new life in us.  Christmas dispels the dark, transcends the fear, in the humble gathering where we meet once again at the manger of Christ and together are fed.  May we be starts for others along the way to the Celebration.  See you at the manger of Love!  Your "cloistered brother," Phil.

Listening on O'Connell St.

 Speaking of listening, I wrote this after I thought about all the times I put things on the long finger..... And about some people I met along the way I like to call the yes people ((+:.......for those of you Stateside the clock referred to is on O'Connell St in Dublin where couples would meet for a date or night out....I might have been there once or twice back in the day ((+: Anyway, here it goes :

 LOUD AND CLEAR: 

listen, can you hear anything I say?
Or are you just nodding, hoping I'll go away?
I write I talk, I call on the phone
Telling you everything you need to know.
A few days later I call you back,
the first thing you say is,
Hey, " how's the craic " ? 

I go on a visit to see an old pal,
Say's he, " now if you need anything,
I'm your man" !
So I take a chance and ask for something,
Sure wouldn't you know,
it all turned into nothing. "

 See you under the clock around eight,"
one of the lads tells his mate,
She stands in the rain till almost nine,
ah, Jasus she thinks, " was it eight or nine??

 Hey, Mickey, sorry about your brother Blake,
I wished I made it to the wake.
Ah, you mustn't have listened to what I said,
 He's gone on a trip with Club Med!!!

 Missing and thinking of you all today
God's Peace, 

 Jazzer